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Living Staircase

Paul Cocksedge’s living spiral staircase with open spaces for reading, drawing, relaxing and drinking tea forms the centrepiece of a new workspace in London’s Soho district.

Designed by Paul Cocksedge Studio, the sculptural staircase is a showcase feature of a contemporary office development by Resolution Property known as Ampersand.

At 12.5-meters high, the staircase provides a dynamic connectivity between the building’s four office floors within a curvilinear atrium, embodying Ampersand’s creativity-meets-commerce brand.

Paul Cocksedge’s design removes the load-bearing pillar from the centre of a traditional staircase design and replaces it with a series of zones for relaxation, creative thinking and informal workplace interaction. Planting along the entire balustrade forms a “flying” garden which can be tended by the building’s office community and there is potential for the staircase to include edible planting such as fresh mint.

On the first level of the staircase a Zettel’z 6 light designed by Ingo Maurer hangs on wires creating a place to draw or leave messages. The second staircase houses a library of source books for creative thought.

The staircase is of timber and steel construction, using Forest Stewardship Council compliant American white oak. Paul Cocksedge worked in partnership with Arup during the 13-month build programme.